How much does a tax preparer make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $26.40 an hour or $4,577 a month.
- Hourly
- $26.40
- Average (mean)
- $60,930
- Jobs
- 76,480
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,760 | $16.23 | |
| 25th | $38,910 | $18.71 | |
| Median | $54,920 | $26.40 | |
| 75th | $76,300 | $36.68 | |
| 90th | $99,270 | $47.73 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| New York | $71,850 |
| California | $70,030 |
| Utah | $66,720 |
| Montana | $63,080 |
| Missouri | $62,780 |
| Colorado | $62,620 |
| Alaska | $62,360 |
| New Hampshire | $61,370 |
| Oregon | $61,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,270 |
| Nevada | $60,000 |
| Minnesota | $59,200 |
| Virginia | $58,520 |
| Massachusetts | $58,400 |
| Wyoming | $57,990 |
| Rhode Island | $57,680 |
| North Dakota | $57,060 |
| Illinois | $54,480 |
| Iowa | $53,660 |
| South Dakota | $52,530 |
| Delaware | $51,960 |
| Mississippi | $50,670 |
| Georgia | $49,330 |
| Florida | $49,020 |
| Ohio | $49,020 |
| North Carolina | $48,130 |
| Texas | $47,460 |
| Kansas | $47,300 |
| Maine | $47,150 |
| Maryland | $47,020 |
| Michigan | $46,400 |
| Indiana | $45,710 |
| Washington | $45,370 |
| Arizona | $44,770 |
| Wisconsin | $44,340 |
| New Jersey | $43,420 |
| Nebraska | $43,010 |
| Oklahoma | $42,700 |
| Connecticut | $41,130 |
| South Carolina | $39,220 |
| Louisiana | $38,740 |
| New Mexico | $38,060 |
| Kentucky | $36,620 |
| Tennessee | $36,600 |
| West Virginia | $35,880 |
| Arkansas | $35,040 |
| Hawaii | $34,720 |
| Alabama | $33,280 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Francisco, CA | $84,240 |
| San Jose, CA | $81,180 |
| Kansas City, MO | $78,920 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $75,990 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $71,800 |
| New York, NY | $71,300 |
| Amarillo, TX | $70,980 |
| San Diego, CA | $70,170 |
| St. Louis, MO | $69,210 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $66,920 |
| Billings, MT | $65,930 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $65,930 |
| Boulder, CO | $65,410 |
| Fargo, ND | $65,320 |
| Denver, CO | $65,150 |
In other countries
Tax Preparer belongs to the international group "Accountants".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Accountant and Auditor$83,680
- Property Appraiser and Assessor$67,960
- Budget Analyst$91,640
- Credit Analyst$83,510
- Financial and Investment Analyst$102,700
- Personal Financial Advisor$105,100
- Insurance Underwriter$81,370
- Financial Risk Specialist$117,300
- Financial Examiner$94,160
- Credit Counselor$52,230
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tax preparer make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $26.40 ($54,920 a year).
How much does a tax preparer make a month?
About $4,577 a month before tax, based on a median of $54,920 a year.
How much does a tax preparer make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $33,760 or less a year ($16.23 an hour); the top 10% make $99,270 or more.
Which state pays tax preparers the most?
New York, with a median of $71,850 a year, followed by California ($70,030) and Utah ($66,720).
Which city pays tax preparers the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a median of $84,240 a year.
How many tax preparers are there in the United States?
About 76,480 people work as tax preparers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.